"Shuangshuang, is this the person?" Wu Chao asked they drew within earshot of Long Yifei and Chen Wentian.
Wu Shuangshuang glanced at Chen Wentian as if he was no better than a common mortal, completely without any customary respect. She snorted derisively and looked away as if she had seen something uncouth.
"Yes, that's him."
Wu Chao studied Chen Wentian up and down and then laughed. He nudged his other companion, a tall male immortal of moderate age. That person also laughed although it was laced with hatred and provocation.
Chen Wentian kept an even expression and took a step forward in front of Long Yifei, blocking their view and protecting her with his aura.
"Who are you?" He asked without a trace of etiquette.
Wu Chao's eyes flashed with anger, "Watch your tone."
Chen Wentian ignored him and looked at the other immortal. He already recognized who it was without the need for respectful introductions.
"Oh, aren't you that Yang Wenhu, that useless idiot Yang Gehu is your relative, isn't he? How is he doing these days?"
The other person was indeed a member of the Yang Clan of Great Waves, Immortal Raging Wave Yang Wenhu. Naturally, he was related to that Yang Gehu who had caused so much trouble for Chen Wentian.
Yang Wenhu's aura rose sharply, "You… how did a weak little bastard like you defeat Gehu? You had to have cheated. Say it, how did you cheat?"
"Oh? If I am so weak, then Yang Gehu really was an idiot. The Yang Clan of Great Waves wasted so much time and resources to produce such a piece of trash, it is truly eye-opening!"
"You!" Yang Wenhu's eyes bulged as he clenched his fists, "Do you want to die?"
Chen Wentian smiled uncaringly. Yang Wenhu was merely a Spirit Lord. Even if he was at the peak of the seventh stage of spiritual strengthening, he was still a Spirit Lord and not a real concern. Just as things were about to get interesting, Wu Chao held a hand to Yang Wenhu, pushing the other person away.
Wu Chao gave Chen Wentian a smile that was not a smile, "I just wanted to stop by and give you a warning. You can act cocky and carefree all you want right now. Just know this. We will make your sacred daughter's life miserable. We will make her regret ever choosing you as her acolyte. And as for you, you better watch your back. We'll make you regret ever opposing us, regret even being born. We will torture your body, mind, and spirit for a century until every last trace of your existence has disappeared."
Wu Chao's smile widened as he showed his white teeth, like a killer eyeing his prey, "But… if you sever your ties with Long Yifei right now and beg, I think I can convince the others to spare your worthless dog life. So, what do you say?"
Chen Wentian returned the smile, "Oh, a threat! How very uncreative… I thought it was only the Yang Clan of Great Waves that had a problem with me. I didn't think the Undying Medicine Valley would try to meddle in this matter. Are you sure you want to get involved?"
Wu Chao sneered, "Stupid, small-minded, ignorant... What do you think we are? We are the Seven Potentates of Jiannan. A problem for one of us is a problem for all of us. The Starry Wei Clan, the Sunken Empire of the East, the Beast Mountain Alliance, the Yang Clan of Great Waves, Frostfire Nation, the Profound Sword Palace, and the Undying Medicine Valley… we all want you dead. Do you understand? Right now, you have one chance to save your life."
Chen Wentian stopped listening to the rambling speech about halfway. He sensed that Long Yifei's spirit was wavering and that her emotions were in disorder. Worried about her, he wrapped a hand around her waist and turned to leave while shielding her from the two unruly immortals. He didn't even bother to throw a parting insult, leaving two seething men in his wake.
Chen Wentian and Long Yifei left the garden party just as it was getting started, earning more than a few scornful looks from the other students and guests. He ignored it all and took her back to the main building which held her dorm room. But before they could reach it, she stumbled and fell weakly into his arms as he caught her.
"Fei'er, what's wrong?" He asked as he pulled her out of the corridor and into a secluded nook beside a set of windows.
Her eyes were red and her cheeks were wet. She wiped her face stubbornly but this only resulted in more tears.
He was stunned. He had never seen her cry before, not like this. Among his disciples, she was always the strongest, not in strength but in spirit, but her resolve seemed to be crumbling at this moment.
"What's wrong?" He asked gently.
She looked at him and then shook her head. Words were hard to come by so he simply held her and let her vent her pent-up emotions. It was a long while later when she finally calmed down enough and let out a long, distressed sigh.
"Master… those people… no, they are worse than people. They are no better than demons in human skin." She said, every word filled with bitterness, "Master, am I selfish? I don't want to be selfish. I don't want to stay here if it means your life will be in danger."
"Fei'er…" He said helplessly, not knowing what to say.
"Master, from the beginning, I've brought you nothing but trouble. From the messy situation of Glacier Palace to that Abbotess Liang who tried to kidnap me… And now this? Listening to him threaten you like that… I couldn't stand it anymore. What should I do? I want to get stronger. I want to be an immortal. But I don't want to lose you to do so. I don't want you to be hurt."
Her words were from the heart, showing him all of her vulnerabilities and her genuine feelings in a way she had never done so before. She was angry, angry at these unreasonable immortals of the continent, angry at herself for being so powerless. Angry that she could do nothing except rely on the man she called master.
Chen Wentian leaned against the cool stone wall and pulled her into a warm embrace. He felt an indescribable attraction towards her and it was not just her beauty, but her earnest emotions and thoughts about him. He felt like he was falling for her all over again.
He always wondered why he put so much effort into her when he already had eleven other disciples. Was it worth fighting all these powerful enemies and dealing with endless headaches? Was it worth going against half of a continent?
She was Long Yifei. Of course, she was worth it. He had no doubt about it.